Text and photographs by Stephen Harmon
We got such interesting, even philosophical comments on last week’s column that we decided to post a Part 2, more photographs with vehicles in the background, which I consciously shot not just to capture the flavor of the day, but to date the scenes.
You may find it interesting to shift your focus between the background and foreground of the photos, and then to see them as a whole.
I hope you find something to enjoy.
Stephen Harmon is a longtime Upper West Sider, a retired lawyer, and a world-class photographer whose work is on display in many of the city’s museums, including The Museum of the City of New York, The Brooklyn Museum, New York Historical, and The New York Public Library.
Check out our audio interview with Stephen Harmon on Rag Radio — HERE.
Subscribe to West Side Rag’s FREE email newsletter here. And you can Support the Rag here.
“Regular” bus fare .60 and “elderly” fare .30. Those were the days.
when I came to NYC in the 60s, it was 15 cents and the driver made change for you.
Yes that is correct. The buses were painted in dark green and beige sort off, and came with cushions seats, instead of the plastic seat on buses installed on the buses the city lease and buy nowadays.
If the picture was taken in 1980, the average bus fare increase is 3.5% per year, less than the average inflation rate of 3.8%.
There’s a very good argument for making City buses and subways free at the point of use, the way streets and sidewalks are.
Far far too high for public transportation fares
Lots of old people sitting on benches and other things outdoors. I don’t think you see much of that now. There are too many mendicants and other anti-social types around
True about sitting about. Seniors are now exercising instead of bench sitting.
Maybe. Or maybe they are sitting at home, rather than on the benches outside. Loneliness is a huge problem in all demographics.
That is when neighbors were decent, and trusted..
Really? I saw that photo and smiled, thinking some things never change. I see seniors sitting on those benches at the Broadway islands constantly. Maybe look around you with a brighter attitude and you’ll see more to make you smile!
The anti-social types were there back then, some would say even more so. It’s just culturally a lot of the folks in the neighborhood back then came from eras and cultures where you retired to sitting out front of your buildings in the evening. You still see a lot of this in Europe. Sadly this is considered loitering by a lot of contemporary people and they also consider it a quality of life violation to be outside chatting with neighbors, playing dominoes, or enjoying a cold one. The city changed a lot, not often for the better.
I see tons of ‘old people ‘ on the UWS .. We’re everywhere!!!
I really enjoy these. Thank you.
Frankfurters and Rolls. Love it!
People were different back in the day 70’s and 80’s in NYC…more social and contemplative. The backdrop for all of these photos and the foregrounds show what the UWS looked like before massive gentrification. It was slower and easier.
The woman sitting in the sun with her eyes closed and her red scarf is priceless….pure bliss. The couple crossing the street, woman in lavender is wonderful. Happy. The man with his newspapers crossing the street reading his book, wonderful. And of course, the woman feeding her pigeon friends. Thanks for all of these.
Another great set of pictures. Thank you for sharing!!
Tibbs! That restaurant was at 2121 Broadway, just south of Fairway.
My favorite is the dude crossing the street at his utmost leisure, newspaper under one arm, a book open in the other, with the New York attitude of “I’m walking here” on full display. This is, perhaps, the precursor to the “person on phone while crossing the street” that we see these days, only the vintage version. Nothing’s new under the sun, now, is it?
I love the guy crossing the street, oblivious to traffic, with his precursor to the cellphone– a book!
You should’ve linked to the original column for those of us that missed it. And also just because you should’ve.
@ Cindy–go to the “history” choice at the top of the WSR homepage and all of the throwback Thursday entries from the past couple of months are there.
Great photos!
Wonderful photos that are always full of details to draw me right into the scene. I’d love to see an entire post of “People on Benches”!!
I remember those days and the old stores in the background. Great pictures.
I love the third picture from the top. I’m trying to imagine the subject of the picture getting ready to go out that day.
“Hmm, it’s a little chilly out. So, it’s a perfect day for my white fur coat that looks just a little dirty. Oh, and I can’t go out without my knotty, weapon-like walking stick from the Gandolf Collection that’s topped by the small head of a Great Dane carved into the handle. Now, for a hat… should I put on this basic wool watchman’s cap or this giant cowboy hat festooned with an array of feathers on the front? Well, I’m headed to Zabar’s and OTB, so the cowboy hat just makes sense. But, I’ll only wear the hat if it’s tilted just-so on my head like a jaunty fedora on Sinatra as he sings songs about broken hearts and sad saloons… Yeah, fits great and looks perfect with these thick, black Elvis Costello eyeglasses. Now, all I need is to shimmy my microscopic chihuahua into this tiny, blue sweater and I’ll be all ready to go.”
for me, skip the vehicles, just show the people, they are so wonderful!
One big difference between then and now is that back then, the only people walking down the street by themselves and talking were usually mentally challenged. Now it’s commonplace.
This is the Upper West Side I grew up in, so colorful and interesting, love the colorful cars and the eclectic fashions. I think social media homogenizes everything. People were much more individual.
As a new resident and still exploring my new neighbourhood, these pictures are wonderful to behold. So much to discover on these iconic streets.
I remember that hot dog lady!